Untying the Interprofessional Gordian Knot: The National Collaborative for Improving the Clinical Learning...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare professional education
• Interprofessional collaboration
• Clinical learning environments

Background:

• The National Collaborative for Improving the Clinical Learning Environment (NCICLE) comprises over 40 health professions organizations.
• Discussions focus on healthcare culture's impact on outcomes and discordance between interprofessional education (IPE) curricula and practice models.
• A 2017 symposium highlighted the need for medicine's involvement in addressing complex IPE challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the "Gordian knot" of issues in interprofessional practice and education.
• To emphasize the necessity of inclusive participation from all health professions in developing solutions.
• To propose actionable steps for advancing the interprofessional agenda.

Main Methods:

• Convened a symposium sponsored by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation.
• Facilitated a discussion on optimizing interprofessional clinical learning environments.
• Authors observed and analyzed the field of interprofessional practice and education.

Main Results:

• Identified significant challenges and discordance in current interprofessional education and practice.
• Highlighted the critical need for medicine's active participation in interprofessional initiatives.
• The symposium served as a catalyst for advancing interprofessional collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing clinical learning environments requires meaningful engagement from all health professions.
• Building on existing IPE research and experience is essential for progress.
• Three key issues and one practical step are proposed to move the interprofessional agenda forward.